Missoula Personal Injury Blog

Drivers in Montana might believe that using hands-free cellphones while driving cuts down in distracted driving behavior, but data analyzed and released by Lytx, a company specializing in analyzing data and providing safety solutions for driving fleets in the commercial and public sectors, shows that the use of hands-free devices might actually lead to drivers engaging in at least one additional distracting activity.

While everyone is aware that holding and talking on a cellphone might result in motor vehicle accidents, many might not see the correlation between hands-free cellphones and other distracted driving behaviors. However, data shows that while the use of hands-free cellphones increased 27% in 2018, having free hands while talking seems to allow drivers to do other potentially distracting things, such as eating, drinking and using other devices. In addition, some drivers who use hands-free cellphones also engage in other risky behavior, including speeding, driving without a seat belt or following the vehicle ahead of them too closely.

Montana residents should be aware that there is a little-known skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa, and it's the subject of many misdiagnoses and delayed diagnoses. A July 2019 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology published the results of a survey where 64% of HS patients said they had to visit five or more physicians before being formally diagnosed with it. Some had to wait over a decade for the correct diagnosis.

HS is characterized by boils that develop in those areas of the skin with hair follicles or sweat glands: for example, the armpit, folds of the stomach, buttocks and groin. These boils will seep out pus, disappear and then return. It is a chronic and painful disease; 15% of respondents in the JAAD survey report being disabled by it. It affects around 1 in 100 people.

You might be one of many Montana drivers who use a global positioning system to help you navigate unfamiliar roadways. While such devices are becoming more commonplace, many people still find them almost magical. You plug in some information and a voice tells you how to get there. The only problem is GPS devices are not always reliable and may place you at an increased risk for collision.

There's a risk of both system error and human error when you use a GPS while driving. Sometimes, outdated information can cause navigation instructions to lead drivers on a wild goose chase. If you're looking for a road name on a street sign that hasn't existed for 10 years or more, you might wind up being late to arrive to your destination. GPS devices can cause driving distractions as well, which can cause collisions that result in injury.

For many drivers in Montana, the reported decline in roadway deaths in 2018 is relieving news pointing to greater safety on the roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 35,560 people were killed in motor vehicle collisions last year, a 2.4% decline over 2017 figures, which themselves reflected a decrease over the prior year. According to the NHTSA, these positive statistics are continuing with the first half of 2019 showing a 3.4% decline in highway fatalities. At the same time, however, pedestrians and cyclists may have additional cause for concern.

The NHTSA also reported that 6,283 pedestrians were killed in car crashes in 2018, an increase of 3.4% over 2017 figures. It also represents the largest single number of pedestrians killed since 1990. According to researchers at "Consumer Reports," pedestrian deaths dropped until 2009 but have risen 53% since that time. There were also 6.3% more cyclists who died in motor vehicle accidents in 2018 for a total of 857. The agency reported that it was looking into reasons for these pedestrian and cyclist deaths, including the prevalence of SUVs. It may be more difficult for motorists to see lone walkers in a taller vehicle.